Firing indicator attachment for distributors of internal-combustion engines



G. J. WOREL NDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR DISTRIBUTORS INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 2. 1950 Dec. 9, 1952 FIRINSFI vtions o f the cylinders of the engine.

Patented Dec. 9, 1952 FIRING INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR DIS- TRIBUTORS OF INTERNAL-CONIBUSTION ENGINES Glen J. Worel, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Thexton Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application October 2, 1950, Serial No. 187,942

2 claims. (C1. 116-124) This invention relates to a firing indicator attachment for distributors of internal combustion engines.

Various makes of automobile engines such as Buicks and Chevrolets have recently been equipped with hydraulic valves at the lower portion of their respective push or tappet rods. These hydraulic valves are designed to compensate for the normal expansion and contraction in length of the tappet rod resulting from variations yin temperature, and hence to eliminate tappet noises which usually occur despite careful adjustment of the tappet rods since the play requiredfor this expansion is not properly taken up; Since they are designed to lessen or eliminate tappet noises when these hydraulic valves are not working properly, the engine is very noisy. A little dirt in the oil of the engine will quickly foul such hydraulic valves. 'I'he dirt can sometimes be blown out with compressed air but within a short time the valve will again be fouled. It is preferable and almost imperative to be assured of good working operation that the valves be cleanedand that the oil be changed. In order to remove and clean these valves properly they must be taken completely apart. After they have been cleaned and reassembled, it is then necessary to readjust the tappet'rods and their connections with the valves of the engine to prevent tappet noises. Such adjustment is ordinarily accomplished by fine adjustments of the tappet adjustment screw, which in the conventional engine connects the upper `end of the tappet rod with its rocker-arm. This adjustment must be made when the tappet rod is at its `lowest position. The position of the tappet rod is determined by the position of the camshaft withrespect thereto. The position of the cam-shaft, in turn, is determined by the posi- When a cylinder is at ring position the cam-shaft is in such position that the tappet rod associated with that cylinder is in its lowest position.`

However, it is diflicult for the average mechanic to determine which cylinder is in firing position by merely referring to the position of the rotor of the distributor and hence to determine which tappet rod is in yproper position for adjustment. Only through many years of eX- perience can a mechanic determine this by observation, and even then he cannot be certain of his convictions. He will occasionally be mistaken with 'the result that he will adjust a tappet rod which is not at its lowest position, and therefore the adjustment will be faulty. My linven- 2 tion eliminates any possibility of such an error.`

It is an object of my invention to providea ring indicator attachment for distributors of internal combustion engines which will readily, positively and accurately identify the cylinder of the engine being fired While the rotor of the distributor is at any one of its respective Vfiring positions.

Another object is to provide a novel ring indicator attachment for distributors of internal combustion engines of an extremely cheap and simple vconstruction and operation.

Another object is to provide a novel firing indicator attachment for distributors of internal combustion engines which can be readily and simply positioned fcr use in conjunction with the distributor and even more readily removed therefrom.

Another object is to provide such an attachment having inherent means for orienting the same with respect to the distributor in a predetermined relative position and having inherent means for retaining the same in such position.

Another object is to provide a ring indicator attachment for distributors of internal combus-v tion engines which will provide indication of the identity of the cylinder being fired directly opposite the free end of the rotor regardless of the position of the rotor.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following descrip-tion made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a distributor with one embodiment of my invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 3 is a central, vertical sectional view of a valve-in-head type engine showing the optimum position of the cam-shaft for proper adjustment of the tappet screw and the relative positions of the various related parts of the engine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a distributor indicated generally as A of the conventional type currently used on most automobile engines. As shown, this distributor A includes a generally cylindricallyshaped Wall 5 having a recess 6 formed thereon to guide the cover (not shown) of the distributor into proper relative position for proper operation.

3 rdinarily this distributor cover (not shown) carries a plurality of contacts, one for each cylinder. As shown in Figure l this distributor A includes a rotor 1, the free end 8 of which revolves to pass rapidly and successively past the contact points of the distributor cover. Also ineluded in the'distributor A are the vbreaker points indicated as 9, one of which is carried by a breaker arm I0. The rotor I has a plurality of cam-lobes II which cause the breaker points 9 which ordinarily register with each other to separate1inter-- mittently as shown in Figure 31..

Mounted on the distributor A in Figure 1 is shown one embodiment of my invention. Figure 2 more clearly shows the structure .of my.

ring indicator attachment. It consists `of an annulus I2 disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and being of the same or slightly larger diameter than the exterior wall of the rdistributor A. As shown in Figure 2 this annulus I2 Y has a lobe I3 formed therein, by stamping or by some other Vsuitable means, to depend therefrom slightly. yThis lobe 'I'3'is of a size to permit it to .be snugly receivedwithin the recess '6 of the distributor A. Also depending from the annulus I2 Vis a plurality of Tspaced gripper ears I4 which Y are disposed adjacent the inner surface of the wall '5 of the distributor A^to firmly grip "the inner Wall .surface and retain the annulus I2 inproper position with respect thereto. gripper ears I.'4 are formedby punching outpertions of the annulus 'I2 at substantially right angles thereto so Athat the gripper ears will constantly urge outwardly Aagainst the inner surface of the distributor Wall 5.

Extending upwardly from .the annulus I2 are a plurality of indicator arms I5, each of which has an inwardly extending horizontal end portion I6. As best shown in Figure 1, each of these horizontal end portions I6 -is provided with indicator means by stamping or in some other suitablemannerto indicate the identity ofthe cylinder of the engine which will be iired when the free vend 8 of the rotor is directly opposite that end portion. The length of the indicator arms I`5 is such that the "horizontal end portions .I.6 are on substantially the same plane as the free end 8 Yof the rotor? as it revolves `in its orbit.

Figure 3 shows an engine indicated .generally as B of the valve-in-head type with the various parts thereof in their proper relative positions for optimum adjustment. As shown, such an engine includes valves I7., pistons :I 8, rocker-arms I9, tappet adjustment screws 2l! and push or tappet rods 2I. These push rods 2-I are provided at'their upper ends 'with a seat 22 'to receive the lower end of ,the tappet adjustment screw 2l). The lower end portions of the push rods are nprovided, as shown, with a hydraulic valve 23 of the ltype previously described herein. The push rod 2I is actuated by the cam-shait-Z'd which-has a cam 25 thereon for thatpurpose for each of the push rods.

Whenever one of the hydraulic vvalves 23 has been removed for cleaning or whenever the rocker-arm I9 or the valve push rod 2I have been removed from the engine it becomes-necessary to make an initial adjustment for each of the push rods 2I. This adjustment must -be made when the push rod is on the base 'circle of vthe cam-shaft 24, as shown in Figure 3. In other words, the cam 25 should vbe at its lowest position so that the push rod '2| will likewisebe at its lowest position. In order to determine .when this condition exists a `mechanic simillapplies As shown these my firing indicator attachment shown in Figure 2 to the distributor so that the lobe I3 will fit into the recess 6 and thereby guide the annulus I2 with its indicator arms I5 into a pre-determined position with respect to the distributor. The gripper ears I4 rmly clamp against the inner surface of 4the wall f5 of the distributor. 'I'he engine is then cranked while the mechanic .watches the rotor 1. When the free end 8 of the rotor is directly opposite one 0f the horizontal .end'portions izI o'ftheindicator arms I5, as shown Figure 1, the mechanic knows that the cylinder of the engine indicated by a number on that end portion isin firing position and that therefore both of the val-ves associated with that cylinder can then be adjusted. Accordingly he will adjust the tappet adjustment screws 2B associated with these yvalves fas required. The engine is then cranked untilthe tree end 8 of the rotor 'I is opposite one of thev other end portions I6 and the mechanic thenproceeds .to makesimilar Aadjustments on the Ytajppet ladjustment screws 2U' associated .with the valves of the cylinder indicated onlthe end portion I6. The numbers on there'nd portions I5, of course, .correspond to the number of Athe cylinder 'which `is 'in iir'ing position when the rotor .'I 'extends in that direction.

Thus it can be seen thatI have prov'idedavery simple device which, vwhen properlya'ttached to thedistributor, will enable even a .relatively inexperienced mechanic to readily and Aaccurately identify the cylinder of 'the engine being ,fired while the Arotor ofthe distributor is .at .any vone of 'its respective firing positions. It should be noted that this device is .of extremely cheap and simple construction. In addition, it is very sirnple -to utilize, a-nd there is no `possibility of errorV in its attachment or inits use. It should also be noted VAthat the horizontal endporion |16 is disposed directly opposite the free end ..8 of .the rotor "l as 'it revolves so as to make .the reading thereof more readily possible. My Afiring indicator'attachment can also be used to-checksticky vail-ves or in any other maintenance .operation in which it is important to `know lthe Vpositions.of the various cylinders of the engine.

it will, -of course, be understood that various changes ma'yjbe `made in lthe form, details, .arrangement -and'proportions of the parts 'without departing "from thescope of my jinvention.

=1. A firing indicator attachment for Ydistributors of vinternal combustionv engneseomprising an annularly arranged framework adapted to be fitted to an vuncovered. distributorin a .predeterm-ined position .relative thereto ,and .in encircling 'relation .with respect -to the rotor of the distributor, andindica'tor arms extending upwardly from saidframework oppositezeach of the respective firing positions of .said .rotorfand -.terminating atthe same plane .as that in which-the rotor moves, each of vsaid .arms .having vinwardly and horizontally extending-fend portions bearing indicator means thereon fto readily indicate which cylinder o'f the `engine :will ebe normal-ly fired 'Whensaid rotor Tis .at `that Vposition v-to en-fable ra mechanic to. readily and .accurately 'de-.'-

termine the identity vof :such cylinder.

`-2. A ringfindicator .attachment for distribu-V tors of internal combustionengines for use inV adjusting the .tappet rods .of such engines, suchV distributors beingo'f the-type having a recess in, the lWall thereof, .said ,framework comprising anf annularly arranged frame-work l.adapted to 'be nttedto an uncovered distributor, alobe depend-.

ing from said framework and adapted to be received in said recess of said distributor to cause said framework to be oriented in a pre-determined relation with respect to said distributor when fitted thereon, a plurality of arms extending upwardly from said framework to a point directly opposite and at exactly the same level as the free end of said rotor as it revolves within its orbit, each of said arms having inwardly and horizontally extending end portions bearing indicator means thereon to readily indicate the identity of the cylinder being fired when said rotor is directly opposite -said arm to enable a mechanic to readily determine which tappet rod to adjust while the rotor is at that position, and

a plurality of depending gripper ears carried by 6 said framework and adapted to cooperate with the wall of said distributor to retain said framework in said pre-determined position relative to said distributor.

GLEN J. W'OREL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

